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#1
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Wood in new boat construction?
With today's technology and available materials, why do boat builders still
use wood in the construction of their boats? From a layman's point of view, it seems ludicrous to do so given that wood rots when exposed to water. s |
#2
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Wood in new boat construction?
stealth wrote:
With today's technology and available materials, why do boat builders still use wood in the construction of their boats? From a layman's point of view, it seems ludicrous to do so given that wood rots when exposed to water. If you have to ask ... Rick |
#3
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Wood in new boat construction?
"Rick" wrote in message hlink.net... stealth wrote: With today's technology and available materials, why do boat builders still use wood in the construction of their boats? From a layman's point of view, it seems ludicrous to do so given that wood rots when exposed to water. If you have to ask ... Rick He did ask! What is your answer? Why is wood used in modern boats made with fiberglass? |
#4
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Wood in new boat construction?
Calif Bill wrote:
He did ask! What is your answer? Why is wood used in modern boats made with fiberglass? And Larry answered very well. There isn't much need to supplement his response except maybe to ask why, with such good digital and film photography available, anyone would consider creating or purchasing a painting. Rick |
#5
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Wood in new boat construction?
On Wed, 31 Dec 2003 11:41:36 -0500, stealth wrote:
With today's technology and available materials, why do boat builders still use wood in the construction of their boats? From a layman's point of view, it seems ludicrous to do so given that wood rots when exposed to water. s I know this sounds flip, but if you have to ask, you won't understand. Many folks consider wood beautiful and like the feel and finish. For that matter, why is there still so much brightwork? Mahogany lasts just fine under paint, yet people varnish it which greatly increases maintenance. The answer is they do it because they love the wood. And, for the record, teak is a very low maintenance wood even with nothing applied. I once owned a 38 foot Hubert Johnson. It was a beauty, built out of solid woods (no plywood) lapstrake construction, monel fittings, but we kept it painted to hold down maintenance. Today, I suppose that craft would be made of fiberglass. Oh well... -- Larry email is rapp at lmr dot com |
#6
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Wood in new boat construction?
He might be asking about the use of wood in fiberglass boats, rather than
wood boats. Commonly the use of plywood for floors, transoms, and interior pieces. As to the why, it's because plywood is cheap. "Larry" wrote in message ... On Wed, 31 Dec 2003 11:41:36 -0500, stealth wrote: With today's technology and available materials, why do boat builders still use wood in the construction of their boats? From a layman's point of view, it seems ludicrous to do so given that wood rots when exposed to water. s I know this sounds flip, but if you have to ask, you won't understand. Many folks consider wood beautiful and like the feel and finish. For that matter, why is there still so much brightwork? Mahogany lasts just fine under paint, yet people varnish it which greatly increases maintenance. The answer is they do it because they love the wood. And, for the record, teak is a very low maintenance wood even with nothing applied. I once owned a 38 foot Hubert Johnson. It was a beauty, built out of solid woods (no plywood) lapstrake construction, monel fittings, but we kept it painted to hold down maintenance. Today, I suppose that craft would be made of fiberglass. Oh well... -- Larry email is rapp at lmr dot com |
#7
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Wood in new boat construction?
He might be asking about the use of wood in fiberglass boats, rather than
wood boats. Commonly the use of plywood for floors, transoms, and interior pieces. As to the why, it's because plywood is cheap. Cheaper. Lighter. More easily fabricated. Can be the best choice in certain applications regardless of cost savings., but in most cases it is a matter of building a boat that the public can afford to buy. Like our cars, homes, and other possessions- every manufacturer knows of ways to make any product "better", but if the difference ultimately results in a near-perfect product that 1 or 2 percent of the population could ever contemplate affording or an extremely serviceable product available to a far greater number of folks, there are a number of factors to consider. The good news is, buyers who want a boat built without a sliver of wood in the hull can find them. In some cases, they will be more expensive. In others, (such as welded aluminum), they will not be more expensive but may have other issues to deal with beyond potential wood rot. |
#8
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Wood in new boat construction?
Lawrence James wrote:
He might be asking about the use of wood in fiberglass boats, rather than wood boats. Commonly the use of plywood for floors, transoms, and interior pieces. As to the why, it's because plywood is cheap. And wood in general is strong. Properly installed wood substructure (encapsolated stringers etc) will last a good long time. The problem of course is if water does get under the encapsolation. My stringers are pressure treated fur that is encapsolated. Time will tell how it will last in the long run. Much will depend on how I care for the boat. But I do not fear it will fail any time soon. One might guess that a poorly made fibreglass stringer system may develope cracks over time. I am sure one properly built will last a lifetime. As will a well built substructure made of wood. Capt Jack R.. |
#9
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Wood in new boat construction?
Encapsulated in poly resin, not epoxy, right? I suggest you do some
research on the water permeability of various resins and you'll discover that your stringers will eventually get wet. "Jack Redington" wrote in message hlink.net... Lawrence James wrote: He might be asking about the use of wood in fiberglass boats, rather than wood boats. Commonly the use of plywood for floors, transoms, and interior pieces. As to the why, it's because plywood is cheap. And wood in general is strong. Properly installed wood substructure (encapsolated stringers etc) will last a good long time. The problem of course is if water does get under the encapsolation. My stringers are pressure treated fur that is encapsolated. Time will tell how it will last in the long run. Much will depend on how I care for the boat. But I do not fear it will fail any time soon. One might guess that a poorly made fibreglass stringer system may develope cracks over time. I am sure one properly built will last a lifetime. As will a well built substructure made of wood. Capt Jack R.. |
#10
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Wood in new boat construction?
"Larry" wrote in message ... On Wed, 31 Dec 2003 11:41:36 -0500, stealth wrote: I should have been more specific given some of the juvenile responses. I was speaking of the wood that is used in the structural coring, not the aesthetic cabinetry/flooring. Wrapping fiberglass around wood that could be subject to seepage/leakage/rot may have been the best way twenty-five years ago, but with the low-cost composite type materials available on the market today, using wood in lieu of these composites doesn't make sense from a layman point of view. And given the amount of surveys that show wood rot in coring areas, it would seem that not using wood would be a huge marketing tool for the boat builder. As for the cost advantage, perhaps some of you haven't seen the price of plywood lately! That said, if you wise guys didn't know the answer, all you had to do was just say so? s |
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